Apparatus for removing scale from a metallic surface



06L 1956 w. G. HERRINGTON APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SCALE FROM A METALLIC SURFACE Filed March 27, 1952 INVENTOR WARREN G- HERR/NGTON A T TORNEV United States Patent APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SCALE FROM A METALLIC SURFACE Warren G. Herrington, Hazardville, Conn., assignor to The Fuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 27, 1952, Serial No. 278,868

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-77) This invention relates to an apparatus for the removal of scale and other foreign material from sheet steel and the like.

Heretofore it has been the most common practice to remove scale and other undesirable matter from steel by a pickling process. The pickling of steel is time consunring and costly, and in addition the apparatus used in the process is relatively expensive and bulky, utilizing a great amount of floor space, and maintenance costs are generally high.

Various attempts have been made to develop mechanical means for scale removal, but such attempts, so far as now known, have met with little, if any, success because such means have not materially reduced the time involved nor have the results attained by such methods compared favorably with the pickling process.

It is the general aim of this invention to provide an improved mechanical apparatus for removing scale from steel and the like at less expense and with better results than attained heretofore.

An important aspect of the invention is the provision of a plurality of rotary brushes disposed with their axes generally parallel to an advancing sheet or bar of steel, said brushes being arranged to simultaneously engage overlapping elongated zonal portions on at least one face of the advancing sheet or bar so as to remove scale and other matter therefrom.

Additional objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the drawing which, by Way of example only, illustrates one specific embodiment of the apparatus for scale removal and the following description should not be considered as limiting the scope of my invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken transversely of the apparatus to show one end of one of the rotary brushes;

Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the apparatus with certain elements omitted to more clearly illustrate the disposition of the rotary brushes relative to the advancing strip or sheet of steel;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of one of the brushes.

Described briefly, the method for cleaning steel so as to remove scale and other undesirable matter therefrom comprises continually moving the said stock longitudinally, and simultaneously subjecting a surface of the stock to a plurality of separate tranverse brushing actions each of which is confined to a transversely narrow longitudinal zone of such length that each portion of the said surface moving through the zone is substantially heated by the brushing action. The positions of the said brushing actions are longitudinally spaced from each other and trans- 2,76 7,413 Patented Oct. 23, 1956 versely offset with respect to each oflier by distances less than the zone widths so that the said surface of the stock along any transverse line thereof is subjected to successive transverse brushing actions along a plurality of transversely spaced overlapping zones. The drawing shows one suitable apparatus but it should be understood that a variety of constructions may be utilized to accommodate steel stock of various sizes and configurations and it should also be understood that the particular apparatus shown in the drawing and described hereinafter is exemplary only in that said apparatus is adapted to accommodate steel stock in strip or sheet form.

Referring now to the drawing and to Fig. 1 particularly, it will be seen that an apparatus 10 is arranged to receive steel stock in the form of a strip or sheet 12. The strip 12 is fed into one end of the apparatus 10 in the direction of the arrow for the purpose of having the scale and other undesirable matter cleaned from at least one surface thereof prior to a refining or fabricating operation. For purposes of illustration, the strip 12 is shown as being fed from a roll 14 which is rotatably supported adjacent said one end of the apparatus 10 upon frame means 16. It will be understood, however, that sheet steel stock can be fed into the apparatus 10 from any other conventional source, it being only necessary that suitable or conventional feed means (not shown) be employed to continually advance the stock through the ap paratus from left to right as viewed in Fig. l.

The most essential operating elements in the apparatus 10 comprise a plurality (six shown) of bruslhes 18, 18 for providing the required transverse brushing actions. The details of construction of the brushes 18, 18 will be described hereinafter, but for present purposes it should be understood that each brush 18 is the rotary type having metallic fibers or bristles and that each brush has a relatively long cylindrical body.

The brushes 18, 18 are supported with their axes generally parallel to the l-ine of advance of the strip 12 by a rectangular frame 20 which stands upon legs 22, 22. Vertical frame elements 24, 24 are disposed one adjacent each end of each brush 18 to vertically adjustably secure a bearing member 26. The bearing members 26, 26 at the opposite ends of each brush 18 cooperate to journal a shaft 28 to which the corresponding brush 18 is concentrically fixed for rotation therewith. The vertical position of the shafts 28, 28 and the brushes 18, 18 can be adjusted by moving the bearing members 26, 26, but in any adjusted position thereof, the shafts should be substantially horizontal so that the peripheral surfaces of the brushes will also be horizontal to properly engage the strip 12 as pointed out hereinafter.

Each brush 18 is independently driven by an electric motor 30 having a drive shaft 32 which is interconnected by pulley and belt means 34 to the brush shaft 28. The motors 30, 30 are supported on platforms 36, 36 atop the frame 20 and are arranged to be energized through conventional switch means at a control box 38 secured to the side of the frame 20 adjacent the inlet end of the apparatus 10.

As mentioned above, the apparatus 10 is arranged to receive the strip 12 as the same is advanced from left to right. To facilitate the advance of the strip, two vertically opposed rolls 40, 40 are rotatably mounted on bearing brackets 42, 42 at the sides of the frame 20. The rolls 4%, 40 at the left or inlet end of the frame guide the advancing strip 12 onto the top surface of a horizontally disposed hardened steel plate 44 which is mounted upon the frame 20 adjacent and below the brushes 18, 18. The base plate 44 supports the strip 12 in a horizontal position for engagement of the top surface thereof by the brushes 18, 18 as the strip is passed through the frame 20 from one end to "the other. Adjacent the right end of each brush 18, a

horizontally and transversely disposed roll 46 is journaled by the frame 20 to engage the top surface of the strip 12 to prevent vertical movements thereof. In addition, a pair of guide plates 48, 48' is adjustably secured to the base plate 44 between adjacent brushes 18, 18 to be moved into engagement with the sides of the strip to prevent lateral deviation thereof by the action of the brushes as the said strip is advanced through the frame.

As indicated hereinbefore, the arrangement of the brushes 18, 18 relative to the strip 12 is important. As shown in Fig. 4, the brushes 18, 18 are arranged with their axes parallel and offset relative to each other so that adjacent brushes will engage transversely overlapping zones on the top surface of the advancing strip 12. These zones are quite narrow and it is necessary to employ several brushes to cover the entire top surface as shown in Fig. 4 wherein the letter S indicates the uncleaned portions of the surface and the letter C indicates the cleaned portions. The transverse offsets of the brushes are such that the surface of the stock along any transverse line thereof is subject to transverse brushing actions along a plurality of transversely spaced overlapping zones.

The width of each zone may be increased by placing the brush at an angle to the direction of movement of the strip, but it has been found that satisfactory cleaning results occur only when the brush is positioned within to approximately 5 to the direction of movement. Exact parallelism between brushes and strip is preferred for optimum results. The width of the zones can also be varied by vertical adjustment of the brushes 18, 18. However, the brushes should not be advanced toward the strip to a position Where the fibers are subjected to undue wear and where the strip may be subjected to abrasions unwarranted by the cleaning results. When brushes having a diameter of 8 are used, it has been found that a penetration of approximately .04" is preferable. By penetration is meant the distance the brush is moved toward the strip from a positiontangent thereto.

With the brushes 18, 18 arranged longitudinally of the strip 12 as described above, a dwell is simulated over each point of the top surface of the strip as it is advanced through the apparatus 10. In the simulated dwell, a relatively high degree of heat is generated by the friction between brush and strip. It is believed that most of the heat is generated in the scale causing it to expand whereby it tends to release itself from the surface of the steel and thus the scale is more readily removed by the brushing action.

Tests of the apparatus to determine optimum operating speeds and other data have been revealing as to many characteristics. For example, in one test using brushes of 8" diameter and 11" length, said brushes being rotated at 3300 R. P. M. at a penetration of .04" and having .010 diameter crimped oil-tempered wire fibers approximately 2%" long, it was found that zones of the order of /2" wide were thoroughly cleaned when the strip was advanced as fast as 250 feet per minute. This and other tests indicate that a simulated dwell of approximately .22 second causes sufiicient heating. for optimum operation when comparable brushes are used at comparable speeds. The thoroughly cleaned zone, resulting from use of the 8 diameter brush varies in width from .4" to .6" with .5 as the probable normal. In other words, the width of the thoroughly cleaned zone was approximately 5% to 7.5% of the brush diameter. This relationship between zone width and brush diameter holds approximately for brushes of comparable construction, but of different sizes.

It should be understood that the foregoing statements concerning the width of the zones relate to only the thoroughly cleaned portions of the strip. Each brush cleans to a lesser degree a portion or zone of the strip slightly wider than stated. To assure complete cleaning of the strip, the brushes are arranged so that the zone thoroughly cleaned by each brush will overlap the adjacent zone by approximately This overlapped arrangement requires that the axes of adjacent brushes 18, 13 be staggered or offset to an extent within the approximate range of 4% to 7% of the brush diameter. Accordingly, the axis of one brush, if extended, would fall well within the periphery of the adjacent brush.

As stated above, the desired simulated dwell approximates .22 second. In the given example this dwell was simulated by using brushes 11 in length and by advancing the steel at 250 feet per minute. An equal dwell can be simulated at other rates of advance by using brushes of different length. If it is desired to advance the steel at more than 250 feet per minute, it will be necessary to use brushes more than 11" long to attain a .22 second dwell.

In accordance with the present invention, the brushes 1%, 18 utilized in the apparatus 13* are preferably constructed so that the effective lengths thereof can be easily varied to suit the apparatus to a variety of operating speeds. This feature of construction is best shown in Fig. 5 wherein it will be noted that each cylindrical brush 18 comprises a plurality of disk-type rotary brushes 50 detachably secured in side-by-side relationship. Accordingiy, the effective length of a cylindrical brush 1% can be increased or decreased by adding or removing disk brushes 50.

Each disk brush 50 has crimped wire fibers 52 which, in the manufacture of the brush, are secured within a channel 54 of a retaining ring 56 by means of staples 58. The flanges 6t} which define said channel are bent inwardly to retain the fibers in radially extending positions. Complementary end plates or face plates 62, 62 are positioned as shown at the opposite ends of the ring 56 and welded together at their interengaging annular faces 64,

64. The plates 62, 62 have radially extending portions 66, 66 engaging and helping to retain the fibers 52 in the position shown. Each plate 62 has a centrally disposed circular inturned flange 68 abutting a like flange 68 on the complementary plate 62 to define a sleeve for rotatably mounting the brush 50. The specific brush as shown and described does not constitute a part of the present invention, this being disclosed in part in the copending application of William A. Parry, Serial No. 129,985, filed November 29, 1949 for Brush Element With Fibers Held in Channel Member, now Patent No. 2,668,311, granted February 9, 1954.

The above-described disk brushes 50 are arranged on the shaft 28, or upon bushings carried thereby, in close side-by-side relationship and held in such position by end plates or collars (not shown) which are secured to the shaft. The plates 62 on the disk brushes 5t), 59 are provided with driving lugs 70 which interengage adjacent brushes to prevent relative rotation between the disk brushes 5t 50.

The particular arrangement or assembly of brushes shown in Fig. 4 merely constitutes an example and the brushes may be arranged in various other ways, it being only essential that the brushes be so arranged that the zones cleaned thereby suitably overlap and comprise the entire surface to be cleaned. For instance, for cleaning a much Wider strip the general arrangement shown in Fig. 4 may be repeated with the brushes of each additional set spaced transversely from those of the initial set. Other suitable brush arrangements can be used.

It is desirable or preferable to rotate some of the brushes in one direction and the others of the brushes in the opposite direction to overcome any tendency of the strip to slip or to be shifted transversely as a result of the brushing action. Advantagecusly, each alternate brush may be rotated in one direction and each intervening brush may be rotated in the opposite direction.

It will be understood that descaling apparatus can be constructed according to the present invention wherein two or more surfaces of the steel stock are cleaned simultaneously. For example, if the stock is in sheet or strip form, the top and bottom surfaces may be simultaneously cleaned by an apparatus generally similar to the one shown, or the bottom surface may be cleaned at another station in the production line.

It will also be understood that many other variations may be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention, said scope being indicated by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing scale from a face of a longitudinally extending thin sheet of steel which apparatus comprises in combination, means for engaging the said sheet and for advancing it longitudinally along a fixed path, said means including an elongated frame arranged to pass the advancing sheet therethrough from end to end and also including a base plate carried by said frame and arranged to support the sheet in a substantially horizontal position, a plurality of similar elongated cylindrical brushes mounted on said frame in longitudinally spaced and transversely offset positions for simultaneous engagement respectively with a plurality of transversely narrow and transversely offset overlapping longitudinal zones of the said face of the sheet which brushes have radial metallic fibers and are rotatable about substantially horizontal axes which extend within a range of 0 to approximately 5 to the direction of longitudinal movement of the sheet, the axes of adjacent brushes being transversely offset to an extent within the approximate range of 4% to 7% of the diameter of the brushes, and drive means for rotating said brushes.

2. Apparatus for removing scale from a face of a longitudinally extending thin sheet of steel which apparatus comprises in combination, means for engaging the said sheet and for advancing it longitudinally along a fixed path, said means including an elongated frame arranged to pass the sheet therethrough from end to end and also including a base plate carried by said frame and arranged to support the sheet in a substantially horizontal position, means engageable with the top surface of the sheet and operable to retain the sheet in said horizontal position, adjustable guide means engageable with the sides of said sheet to prevent lateral deviation thereof, a plurality of elongated cylindrical rotary brushes mounted on said frame in longitudinally spaced and transversely otlset positions for simultaneous engagement respectively with a plurality of transversely narrow and transversely offset overlapping longitudinal zones of the top surface of the sheet, each of which brushes has radial metallic fibers and is rotatable about an axis Which is substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the direction of longitudinal movement of the sheet, and drive means for rotating the brushes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,132 Broadston May 24, 1932 1,889,838 Norman Dec. 6, 1932 2,218,913 Hughes et a1. Oct. 22, 1940 2,359,088 Croft Sept. 26, 1944 2,403,341 Carlson July 2, 1946 2,617,223 McElroy et al. Nov. 11, 1952 2,641,008 Smith a- June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 374,516 Great Britain June 13, 1932 

